Tsarina Elizaveta Petrovna

Elizaveta (Elizabeth) Petrovna was the daughter of Peter the Great and his history-making wife Catherine I, believed to have risen from being a serf to becoming Empress in her own right. Elizabeth was not raised to be ruler, there were plenty of distant male relatives to take on the mantle of Tsar, but as we’ll discuss later in this episode, Elizabeth clawed through heartbreak, tragedy, and abuse to eventually be crowned Empress of Russia. However, her reign, much like the other 16th-century empresses, has been marred by scandal. The glorious and long reign of Catherine the Great has overshadowed that of Elizabeth. In addition, Catherine made sure to steer the narrative of her relationship with Elizabeth, often painting the empress as a heartless and cold manipulator, but she was far more capable and accomplished than she is often given credit for.Featured Guest: Author Ellen Alpsten is best known for her two novels on Elizabeth and her mother Catherine I titled Tsarina and The Tsarina’s Daughter. Note: Keep an eye on this page for some exciting announcements in February!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.